Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) dispar Kerremans, 1898, 1903

Bílý, Svatopluk, 2020, A revision of the Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) dispar Kerremans species-group (Coleoptera: Buprestidae: Anthaxiini), Zootaxa 4851 (3), pp. 522-534 : 524-527

Anthaxia (Haplanthaxia) dispar Kerremans, 1898

( Figs. 1, 9–11 , 18 , 25 )

Anthaxia dispar Kerremans, 1898: 300 .

Type locality: Lake Moero [Lake Mweru, southern Tanzania] .

Anthaxia dispar: Kerremans, 1903: 172 (taxonomy); 1909: 26 (catalogue); 1911: 88 (taxonomy, faunistics); Obenberger, 1915: 80 (taxonomy); Schouteden, 1916: 329 (check-list); Obenberger, 1917: 181, 185 (monograph of the genus); 1930: 540 (catalogue); 1940: 11 (taxonomy, faunistics); Burgeon, 1941: 191 (catalogue, faunistics); Bílý, 1973: 16 (taxonomy, faunistics); 1991: 126 (taxonomy); 1997: 20, 65 (catalogue); Bellamy, 2008: 1381 (catalogue).

Anthaxia lasioptera Obenberger, 1915: 77 ( Fig. 4 ).

Type locality: Zanzibar .

Anthaxia lasioptera: Obenberger 1917: 182 , 186 (monograph of the genus); 1928: 217 (taxonomy); 1930: 542 (catalogue); 1931: 91 (taxonomy); Burgeon: 1941: 191 (catalogue, faunistics); Bílý, 1991: 126 (taxonomy, syn. of dispar ); 1997: 20, 86 (catalogue, as syn. of dispar ); Bellamy, 2008: 1381 (catalogue, as syn. of dispar ).

Anthaxia vulpes Théry, 1930: 156 ( Fig. 6 ).

Type locality: Haute Sanga [Mambere-Kadei, Central African Republic] .

Anthaxia vulpes: Bílý, 1991: 126 (taxonomy, syn. of dispar ); 1997: 20, 128 (catalogue, as syn. of dispar ); Bellamy, 2008: 1381 (catalogue, as syn. of dispar ).

Anthaxia hyperlasia Obenberger, 1928: 218 syn. nov. ( Fig. 2 ).

Type locality: RSA, Zululand [KwaZulu-Natal], Mfongosi .

Anthaxia hyperlasia: Obenberger, 1930: 542 (catalogue); Bílý, 1997: 25, 78 (catalogue); Bellamy, 2008: 1405 (catalogue).

Type specimens studied. A dispar : holotype (female, BMNH): “Lake Moero, J. Duvivier [h] // Type [p, round, redframed] // Kerremans 1903 –59 [p] // dispar Kerr. Type [h]”; A. hyperlasia : holotype (female, NMPC): “Mfongosi, Zululand // Typus [p, red, framed] // Anthaxia hyperlasia m. Type [h], Det. Dr. Obenberger [p] // Mus. Nat. Pragae Inv. 22546 [p] // Mus. Nat. Pragae Inv. 22546 [p, h] // Anthaxia (Anthaxia) hyperlasia Obenberger, 1928 , Vít Kubáň det. 2012”; A. lasioptera : holotype (male, NMPC): “ Zanzibar, Afrique équat. [h] // Anthaxia lasioptera m. Type, [h] det. Dr. Obenberger [p] // Typus [p, red, framed] // Mus. Nat. Pragae Inv. 22545 [p] // Anthaxia (s. str.) dispar Kerremans, 1898 , Sv. Bílý det. 2014 [p, h] (// cum typo comparavit Sv. Bílý 2014 [p]”; A. vulpes : holotype (female, MNHN) “Carnot, Haute Sanga [h] // Holotype [red, p] // Anthaxia vulpes Théry [h] Type [red, p] // Muséum Paris 1935, Coll. A. Théry [p] // MNHN EC 10303 [p]”.

Further specimens studied. DRC: Belgian Congo, Kabinda , 6 o 8’S 21 o 24’E (2 males, NMPC) ; Sampwe, Mufungwa , 1.–16.xii.1911, Dr. Bequaert leg. (1 male, 1 female, MRAC) ; Albertville , xii.1918, R. Mayne leg. (1 male, MRAC) ; Lumumbashi , x.1971 –iv.19072, W. Beun (don. A. Allaer) (1 male, MRAC) ; Haut Uele, Abimva , viii.1925, L. Burgeon leg. (1 male, NMPC) . KENYA: Katutu-Budungo , 25.ix.1915, Holtz leg. (1 male, ZMHB) ; Br. O. A., Ramissi , xi.1915 (1 male, ZMHB) ; Malindi, Gedi Forest , iv.1973, Hans Gønget leg. (1 male, NMPC) ; Naivosha , viii.1971 (1 female, HMCN) ; Nakuru, Subukia , 35 km NE Nakuru (B5), 2000 m, 5.iv.1992, R. Gerstmeier leg. (1 female, HMCN) ; Kuku Plain, Reg. Masai-dint. Kimanatra, Amboseli e Tsavo , vi. 1986, R. Mourglia leg. (1 male, 1 female, NMPC) ; Tsavo East , vi.1989, A. & G. Rautenstrauch leg. (1 male, MKCN) . MALAWI: Nyasaland, Mlanje , 6.i.1913, S. A. Neave leg. (1 female, BMNH) ; Nkhata bay env., “rain forest”, 1.i.2002, F.& L. Kantner leg. (1 male, MKCN) ; Dedza, 20.–30.i.1998, Mráček leg. (1 male, MKCN) . MOZAMBIQUE: Mozambik NW, 30 km N of Tete, 15 o 50’S 33 o 33’E, 410 m, 6.xii.2005, M. Kadlecová leg. (1 female, HMCN) ; Manica pr., 65 km W of Chimoio , 10.–11.xii.2003, J. Halada leg. (1 male, 1 female, MKCN) ; Nyasaland , SW of Lake Chilwa, 9.i.1914, S. A. Neave leg. (1 male, BMNH) . RSA: KwaZulu Natal, Mtubatuba-Dukuduku , 17.–21.xii.1997, I. Jeniš leg. (8 males, 3 females, NMPC) ; Natal mer., Oribi Gorges , 21.xi.1991, Richter leg. (1 male, 1 female, HMCN) ; Mpumalanga, 30 km NE of Lydenbrug , NR Ohrig, 22.–25.ix.2003, J. Halada leg. (2 males, 1 female, MKCN) ; Mpumalanga, 20 km NE of Barboton , 3.–4.i.2004, J Halada leg. (1 male, 1 female, MKCN) ; Mpumalanga, Ohrigstaddam NR, 30 km NE of Lydenburg , 22.–25.xi.2003, J. Kudrna jr. leg. (1 male, MKCN) ; Natal, St. Lucia , 25.–27.x.1981, Klapperich leg. (1 male, NMPC) ; Limpopo Prov., Klasserie Dam Caravan Park , 024 o 31’47.8”S 031 o 03’31.5”E, 543 m, 25.xi.2006, collected during daytime on leaves and flowers, D. Ahrens & S. Fabrizii leg. (1 female, SGCB) ; Transvaal , 13 km W of Ofcolaco, 24 o 09’S 30 o 18’E, 800 m, 27.xi.1985, C. L. Bellamy, A. V. Evans leg. (1 female, NMPC) ; Zululand, St. Lucia Bay , x.1920, Bell. Marley leg. (1 male, NMPC) ; Barberton , P. Rendall leg. (1 male, BMNH) ; Barberton , 13.i.1897 (1 male, NMPC) ; Zululand , no precise data (4 males, 1 female, NMPC) . RWANDA: Cyangugu, Bugarama , 18.i.1986, Mühle leg. (1 male, HMCN) . TANZANIA: D. O. Afr., Muansa [Mwanza], a. bleuf. [from flowers of] Cyperus , 7.–18.xii.1915 (4 males, 2 females, ZMHB) ; D. O. Afr., Kaharua, (1 male, ZMHB) ; Ukerewe (3 females, NMPC) ; Usambara Mts. (1 male, NMPC) ; Victoria Nyansa, Katona , Mara (1 female, NMPC) ; Dar-es-Salaam, vi., C. V. Legros leg. (1 female, BMNH) ; Tanganyika , Shinyanga, 1934, E. Burton leg. (1 female, BMNH) ; prov. Kagera, Kimisi Game Reserve , 30 km S of Karagwe, 01 o 52’59”S 31 o 04’46”E, 1600 m, 25.–26.xi.2017, J. Halada leg. (1 male, MKCN) ; Brit. O. Afrika, Tanveta Gotsch (1 male, NMPC) . UGANDA: Bayon , ex coll. Kerremans (1 male, MRAC) ; Kasese, 10 km Kilembe , 1800 m, 21.xi.1994, M. Snížek leg. (3 males, MKCN) ; Kampala, 7.–11.iv.1919 O. C. Gowdey leg. (1 male, BMNH) . ZAMBIA: 60 km NW of Kapini Mposhi , 8.xii.2002, J. Halada leg. (1 male, MKCN) ; E of Mkushi env., 16.–18.xii.2004, Snížek, Tichý leg. (1 female, MKCN) ; Kashitu , N of Broken Hill, i.1915, H. C. Dollman leg. (1 female, BMNH) ; Serenje , about 4500 ft., 26.xii.1907 (1 female, NMPC) ; Kasanka NP, Kabwe Campsite , GPS: 12 o 32’29.184”S 30 o 12’43.521”E, 25.–27.ii.2018, V. Beneš leg. (1 male, NMPC) . ZIMBABWE: Kyle Recr. Park and Lake Mutirikwi , 20 o 13’S 31 o 00’E, 2.xii.1993, F. Koch leg. (1 male, ZMHB) ; 30 km W of Harare , 22.xii.1998, J. Halada leg. (1 male, MKCN) ; 70 km SW of Gweru, Nalatale ruins env., xii.2011, J. Halada leg. (1 female, MKCN) ; 50 km S of Bulawayo, Matobo , 3.–5.xii.1998, J. Halada leg. (1 male, MKCN) ; the same data but 3.1. i.1998, F. Kantner leg. (1 female, MKCN) ; Matopo , 17.xii.1922, Rhodesia Mus. (1 male, BMNH) . NO PRECISE DATA: Basum , 11.–20.v.1914, S. Tessmann leg. (1 male, ZMHB) . NO DATA: (1 male, ZMHB) .

Diagnosis. Medium-sized (6.3–9.3 mm), matt with silky lustre, strongly wedge-shaped, dorsal surface bronze to red-bronze with long, sometimes lanuginose, rusty pubescence; head small, usually partly retracted into prothorax, frons flat to very weakly convex; pronotum moderately convex, 1.6–1.7 times as wide as long, with large, wide lateroposterior depressions; pronotal sculpture consisting of fine, simple punctures which can form short, fine, transverse rugae on disc and small, polygonal cells with tiny central grains on lateral sides; scutellum large, pentagonal or subcordiform, weakly depressed; elytra strongly wedge-shaped, 1.7–1.8 times as long as wide, uneven, apical fifth of lateral margins sharply serrate; subhumeral lobe large, wide, basal transverse depression deep, wide, reaching scutellum; prosternal process as wide as long, sharply pointed apically and sharply, transversely widened posterior to procoxae; inner margins of male metatibiae emarginate preapically with fine serrations on posterior half ( Fig. 25 ); aedeagus ( Fig. 18 ) widely spindle-shaped, parameres strongly narrowed at posterior third, narrowest part of parameres with rather sharp, dorsolateral projection.

Sexual dimorphism. The female differs from the male by the somewhat robuster body, simple metatibiae and by the apically, deeply notched anal ventrite (rounded in male).

Having studied the holotypes of Anthaxia (H.) dispar and A. (H.) hyperlasia I failed to find any substantial difference and I suppose them to be conspecific, A. (H.) hyperlasia Obenberger, 1928 being the younger synonym of A. (H.) dispar Kerremans, 1898 . The holotype of A. (H.) hyperlasia is only a large female with well-preserved, long pubescence ( Fig. 2 ).

Anthaxia (H.) dispar has a surprisingly wide distribution, however the variability of the species is negligible; a weak clinal variability can be traced from the south to the north. The southern populations from RSA, Zimbabwe and Mozambique are usually larger, stouter and more red-bronze but I failed to find any distinct border between the southern and northern popuations. North of Kenya Anthaxia (H.) dispar is most probably replaced by A. (H.) aethiopica sp. nov.

The type locality of A. (H.) vulpes ( CAR: Haute Sanga [now Mambere-Kadei]) is rather strange and it could be the westernmost point of the distribution of A. (H.) dispar . This species was synonymised with A. (H.) dispar based on the comparision of the holotypes ( Bílý, 1991) of both species; unfortunately the holotypes of both species are females. Since the distribution of the whole species-group has been enlarged across the entire tropical part of Africa as far as to the western coast I am not quite sure if the synonymisation was correct. Moreover in the collection of NMPC there is a female specimen labelled “ Cameroun, Dschang” which does not correspond very much with the females of A. (H.) occidentalis sp. nov. and which could be conspecific with A. (H.) vulpes . Until the male of A. (H.) vulpes is discovered the question still remains open.

Distribution: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of South Africa, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Figures

FIGS. 1–9. Historical types. 1—Anthaxia dispar Kerremans, 1898, holotype, female 7.1 mm; 2—A. hyperlasia Obenberger, 1928, holotype, female, 8.9 mm; 3—A. komareki Obenberger, 1931, holotype, male, 4.8 mm; 4—A. lasioptera Obenberger, 1915, holotype, female, 7.3 mm; 5—A. pilifrons Kerremans, 1898, holotype, male, 7.5 mm; 6—A. vulpes Théry, 1930, holotype, female, 7.2 mm, © MNHN; 7—Anthaxia (Haplathaxia) aethiopica sp. nov., holotype, male, 5.7 mm; 8—A. (H.) caerulea sp. nov., holotype, male, 8.6 mm; 9—A. (H.) dispar Kerremans, 1898, (RSA, Limpopo), male, 7.6 mm.

FIGS. 10–15. Habitus.10—A. (H.) dispar, female (RSA, Mpumalanga), 7.7 mm; 11—A. (H.) dispar (RSA, Limpopo), male, lateral view, 7.6 mm; 12—A. (H.) keniae Théry, 1941 (Kenya, Kiserian), male, 5.9 mm; 13—A. (H.) occidentalis sp. nov., holotype, male, 7.8 mm; 14—the same, allotype, female, 7.6 mm; 15—A. (H.) pilifrons Kerremans, 1898, (Zambia, Kafue), female, 7.3 mm.

FIGS. 16–22. Aedeagi (not in scale). 16—Anthaxia (Haplathaxia) aethiopica sp. nov., holotype; 17—A. (H.) caerulea sp. nov., holotype; 18—A. (H.) dispar Kerremans, 1898 (RSA, Limpopo); 19—A. (H.) keniae Théry, 1941 (Kenya, Kiserian); 20—A. (H.) komareki Obenberger, 1931, holotype; 21—A. (H.) occidentalis sp. nov., holotype; 22—A. (H.) pilifrons Kerremans, 1898, holotype.

FIGS. 23–28. Male metatibiae (not in scale). 23—Anthaxia (Haplathaxia) aethiopica sp. nov., holotype; 24—A. (H.) caerulea sp. nov., holotype; 25—A. (H.) dispar Kerremans, 1898 (RSA, Limpopo); 26—A. (H.) keniae Théry, 1941 (Kenya, Kiserian); 27—A. (H.) occidentalis sp. nov., holotype; 28—A. (H.) pilifrons Kerremans, 1898, holotype.